Obituary for Melinda Gale Craft
“A Time to Be Born”
Melinda Gale Anderson Craft, was born on April 5, 1957 in Grapeland, MS to the late H. C. and Lemer Nell Anderson. She was the ninth of ten children born to this couple.
“A Time to Live”
Melinda confessed a belief in Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized at New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, Grapeland, MS under the leadership of Rev. L.C. Collins. After marrying and moving to Hattiesburg, MS, she united with Mary Magdalene Baptist Church where she served faithfully until she departed this life to be with her Heavenly Father.
Melinda attended Nugent Center School, in Benoit, MS and graduated with the class of 1975. She ranked second in her class. Melinda was a standout athlete and excelled in basketball, earning her many awards and accolades for her athletic ability. She and her twin sister, Carolyn was a force to be reckon with on the basketball court! Melinda attended Alcorn State University and continued her basketball career while a student there.
Melinda met her life long soul-mate, Marcus Craft, Sr. while a student at Alcorn. They entered into Holy Matrimony on April 5, 1980. God blessed this union with two sons, Marcus, Jr and Adrian.
“A Time to Plant”
Along Melinda’s life journey, she planted good seeds! She deposited the Word of God, or “good seeds” into her heart; because of that seed, she has harvested life everlasting. This is evidence by the way she lived her life and the affect she had on the lives of the people she came into contact with.
Melinda loved the Lord above everything and everyone! She loved her husband, sons, and grands with every fiber of her being, unconditionally! She loved her daughters-in-law’s as though they were her daughters. She loved her siblings with her whole heart, and nothing could tear them apart! She had a special bond with her twin sister Carolyn, that was unbreakable! As Melinda continued her journey on through life’s path, she planted seeds of Faith, Hope, and Love into the people she met along the way.
Melinda loved her church, her pastor, and church family. She took pride in her service to the church. She found joy in keeping God’s house clean! She planted seeds of Faithfulness to the church’s ministries she served; the Choir, Deaconess Ministry, Usher Board, Youth Ministry, and Nursing Home Ministry. She was truly a doer of the Word, as well as a hearer!
Melinda found joy in the simple things of life. She loved family! She looked forward to family gatherings, spending time with her grands, watching sports, fishing, taking pictures, and filling out cross word puzzles.
Melinda will be remembered by many as a loyal friend, confidante, and servant of God. She will be remembered by her family as a loving wife of 41 years, a doting and caring mother and grandmother, a dear sister, a special aunt, and a cousin that had an open heart to all that knew and loved her. She was a “phenomenal woman”!
“A Time to Die”
Melinda went home to be with her Father in Heaven on Friday, May 14, 2021, at Forest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, MS.
Melinda was preceded in death by her parents, H.C. and Lemer Nell Anderson; siblings, Dorothy Love, Ruby Nettles, Ora Harris, Herman Sanders, Woodrow Anderson, Connie Miller, Marvin and Arvin Anderson (twins), mother-in-law, Gertie Smiley and four brother-in-law’s.
Surviving her departure with cherished and loving memories are, her husband of forty-one years, Marcus Craft, Sr. of Hattiesburg, MS, sons, Marcus, Jr (Janet), Brandon, MS, Adrian (Kasia) Craft, Hattiesburg, MS; four grandchildren, Calayia Boyd, Javien Williams, Chloe Craft, and Karli Craft; sisters, Betty Fearn, Providence, Rhode Island, Bobbye Thunderbird, Greenville, MS, Shirlean (Harvey) Bailey, Riverdale, GA, Louise Jackson, Jackson, MS, twin sister, Carolyn (Mack) Gibson, Hattiesburg, MS; brother, Henry (Corrinne) Anderson, Jackson, MS; loving sister-in-law’s, many special nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and cherished friends.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:28-31
Melinda Gale Anderson Craft, was born on April 5, 1957 in Grapeland, MS to the late H. C. and Lemer Nell Anderson. She was the ninth of ten children born to this couple.
“A Time to Live”
Melinda confessed a belief in Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized at New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, Grapeland, MS under the leadership of Rev. L.C. Collins. After marrying and moving to Hattiesburg, MS, she united with Mary Magdalene Baptist Church where she served faithfully until she departed this life to be with her Heavenly Father.
Melinda attended Nugent Center School, in Benoit, MS and graduated with the class of 1975. She ranked second in her class. Melinda was a standout athlete and excelled in basketball, earning her many awards and accolades for her athletic ability. She and her twin sister, Carolyn was a force to be reckon with on the basketball court! Melinda attended Alcorn State University and continued her basketball career while a student there.
Melinda met her life long soul-mate, Marcus Craft, Sr. while a student at Alcorn. They entered into Holy Matrimony on April 5, 1980. God blessed this union with two sons, Marcus, Jr and Adrian.
“A Time to Plant”
Along Melinda’s life journey, she planted good seeds! She deposited the Word of God, or “good seeds” into her heart; because of that seed, she has harvested life everlasting. This is evidence by the way she lived her life and the affect she had on the lives of the people she came into contact with.
Melinda loved the Lord above everything and everyone! She loved her husband, sons, and grands with every fiber of her being, unconditionally! She loved her daughters-in-law’s as though they were her daughters. She loved her siblings with her whole heart, and nothing could tear them apart! She had a special bond with her twin sister Carolyn, that was unbreakable! As Melinda continued her journey on through life’s path, she planted seeds of Faith, Hope, and Love into the people she met along the way.
Melinda loved her church, her pastor, and church family. She took pride in her service to the church. She found joy in keeping God’s house clean! She planted seeds of Faithfulness to the church’s ministries she served; the Choir, Deaconess Ministry, Usher Board, Youth Ministry, and Nursing Home Ministry. She was truly a doer of the Word, as well as a hearer!
Melinda found joy in the simple things of life. She loved family! She looked forward to family gatherings, spending time with her grands, watching sports, fishing, taking pictures, and filling out cross word puzzles.
Melinda will be remembered by many as a loyal friend, confidante, and servant of God. She will be remembered by her family as a loving wife of 41 years, a doting and caring mother and grandmother, a dear sister, a special aunt, and a cousin that had an open heart to all that knew and loved her. She was a “phenomenal woman”!
“A Time to Die”
Melinda went home to be with her Father in Heaven on Friday, May 14, 2021, at Forest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, MS.
Melinda was preceded in death by her parents, H.C. and Lemer Nell Anderson; siblings, Dorothy Love, Ruby Nettles, Ora Harris, Herman Sanders, Woodrow Anderson, Connie Miller, Marvin and Arvin Anderson (twins), mother-in-law, Gertie Smiley and four brother-in-law’s.
Surviving her departure with cherished and loving memories are, her husband of forty-one years, Marcus Craft, Sr. of Hattiesburg, MS, sons, Marcus, Jr (Janet), Brandon, MS, Adrian (Kasia) Craft, Hattiesburg, MS; four grandchildren, Calayia Boyd, Javien Williams, Chloe Craft, and Karli Craft; sisters, Betty Fearn, Providence, Rhode Island, Bobbye Thunderbird, Greenville, MS, Shirlean (Harvey) Bailey, Riverdale, GA, Louise Jackson, Jackson, MS, twin sister, Carolyn (Mack) Gibson, Hattiesburg, MS; brother, Henry (Corrinne) Anderson, Jackson, MS; loving sister-in-law’s, many special nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and cherished friends.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:28-31